Fast dormancy system and process

ABSTRACT

A communication system operates in the first power state during a communication session. The system transitions from the first to a second power state, when a first predefined time period expires after transfer of a packet and before a transfer of a next packet, for any of and no more than a first N packets in the communication session. Alternatively or in addition, the system transitions from the first to the second power state when: (a) the first predefined time period expires after transfer of a packet and before transfer of a next packet in the communication session and (b) the size of each packet transferred thus far in the communication session is not greater than S.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present disclosure relates generally to communication systems andprocesses and more particularly, to communications systems and processesfor fast dormancy to reduce tail overhead of radio connections thatcontain a small amount of data.

2. Background

In mobile telephone devices, radio connections that contain a relativelysmall amount of data (referred to herein as “tiny connections”) occur incertain communication networks. Tiny connections can result in aninefficient usage of power in mobile user equipment (UE) and inefficientusage of network resources. Tiny connections can be caused by variousevents, for example, but not limited to, delayed TCP FIN packets,keep-alive messages, delayed/duplicated RST or ACK packets, and unwantedspurious packets initiated by networks, or other communication events.

Since tiny connections contain a very small amount of data (e.g., arelatively small number of packets, or one or more relatively smallpackets), the useful period of time for exchanging packets between theUE and the network is very small, followed by a relatively large periodof time referred to as “tail overhead.” Tail overhead is caused by thenetwork inactivity timer. The network inactivity timer is configured toexpire at a predefined time period following the end of each packet,unless another packet is communicated within that time period. Duringtail overhead, the UE stays on a high power state (e.g., CELL_DCH andCELL_FACH) while waiting for the network inactivity timer to expire, sothat the UE can transition to a low power state (e.g., IDLE).

For example, a tiny connection with two seconds of traffic activity andeighteen seconds of network inactivity timer would suffer 90% tailoverhead. Reliably shortening tail overhead can improve power usageefficiency in the UE and improve network efficiency by releasing radioresources earlier.

One proposal for shortening tail overhead is to identify a specific tinyconnection type such as one for a delayed TCP SYN packet where the veryfirst packet in a radio connection is a TCP SYN packet from the serverwhich is followed by an uplink ACK packet. However, that proposal wouldbe limited to only those tiny connections that are provided with suchSYN and ACK packets.

Other proposals, such as described in U.S. Publ. No. 2012/0320811 toIslam et al. or in U.S. Publ. No. 2013/0242763 to Li, involvedetermining data transaction needs of an application running on adevice, to determine if future network communications are likely.According to such proposals, a device can send a signal to release aradio connection when it determines that the application running on thedevice is finished with data transactions. However, such proposals donot address various different types of “tiny connections” that can occurin many network environments.

Other proposals, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,504,002 to Lenartet al. have employed algorithms for transitioning a device to adifferent operating state, after an amount of time has lapsed in theabsence of data traffic, but are not concerned with “tiny connections”in the first preset number N of packets of a communication session

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods forreducing “tail overhead” for “tiny connections,” by recognizing tinyconnections, and initiating a relatively fast transition to a low powerstate in response to a detection of the end of the data transfer foreach tiny connection.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method ofcontrolling an electronic communication device having first and secondpower states comprises operating the electronic communication device ina first power state in a communication session; and requesting to thebase station transitioning the electronic communication device from thefirst power state to the second power state in response to adetermination that a first predefined time period has expired aftertransfer of a packet and before a transfer of a next packet, for any ofand no more than a first N packets in the communication session.

A method, according to further embodiments, comprises detecting aconnection increase rate and adjusting N based on the detectedconnection increase rate.

According to yet further embodiments, N is a number in the range of2-12.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a method ofcontrolling an electronic communication device having first and secondpower states comprises: operating the electronic communication device ina first power state in a communication session; and transitioning theelectronic communication device from the first power state to the secondpower state in response to a determination that: (a) a first predefinedtime period has expired after transfer of a packet and before a transferof a next packet in the communication session and (b) the size of eachpacket transferred thus far in the communication session is notdetermined to be greater than S.

A method, according to further examples of any of the above embodiment,comprises detecting a connection increase rate and adjusting S based onthe detected connection increase rate.

According to yet further examples of any of the above embodiments, thefirst predefined time period is in the range of 3 to 5 seconds.

According to yet further examples of any of the above embodiments, S isa number in the range of 100-1000 bytes.

According to yet further examples of any of the above embodiments,transitioning comprises implementing a UMTS fast dormancy operation.

A method, according to further examples of any of the above embodiments,comprises determining whether the electronic communication device is ina screen OFF mode and maintaining the electronic communication device inthe first power state in response to a determination that thecommunication device is not in the screen OFF mode.

A method, according to further examples of any of the above embodiments,comprises determining whether the electronic communication device is inan application processor power collapse mode and maintaining theelectronic communication device in the first power state in response toa determination that the communication device is not in the applicationprocessor power collapse mode.

A communication system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention comprises an electronic communication device having at leastfirst and second different power states, where the electroniccommunication device is configured to operate in the first power stateduring a communication session. The communication system also includesprocessing electronics in the electronic communication device, theprocessing electronics configured for requesting transitioning of theelectronic communication device from the first power state to the secondpower state in response to a determination that a first predefined timeperiod has expired after transfer of a packet and before a transfer of anext packet, for any of and no more than a first N packets in thecommunication session.

According to further embodiments of the above-described system theprocessing electronics is further configured to adjust N based on adetected connection increase rate.

According to further embodiments of the above-described system, theprocessing electronics is configured such that at least one of: (a) N isa number in the range of 2-12; (b) the first predefined time period isin the range of 3 to 5 seconds; and (c) transitioning comprisesimplementing a UMTS fast dormancy operation.

According to further embodiments of the above-described system, theprocessing electronics is further configured to at least one of: (a)determine whether the electronic communication device is in a screen OFFmode and maintain the electronic communication device in the first powerstate in response to a determination that the communication device isnot in the screen OFF mode; and (b) determine whether the electroniccommunication device is in an application processor power collapse modeand maintaining the electronic communication device in the first powerstate in response to a determination that the communication device isnot in the application processor power collapse mode.

A communication system according to a further embodiment of the presentinvention also comprises an electronic communication device having atleast first and second different power states, the electroniccommunication device configured to operate in the first power stateduring a communication session. In the further embodiment, processingelectronics in the electronic communication device is configured fortransitioning the electronic communication device from the first powerstate to the second power state in response to a determination that: (a)a first predefined time period has expired after transfer of a packetand before a transfer of a next packet in the communication session and(b) the size of each packet transferred thus far in the communicationsession is not determined to be greater than S.

According to further embodiments of the above-described system, theprocessing electronics is configured such that at least one of: (a) thefirst predefined time period is in the range of 3 to 5 seconds; (b) S isin the range of 100-1000 bytes; and (c) transitioning comprisesimplementing a UMTS fast dormancy operation.

According to further embodiments of the above-described system, theprocessing electronics is further configured for at least one of: (a)determining whether the electronic communication device is in a screenOFF mode and maintaining the electronic communication device in thefirst power state in response to a determination that the communicationdevice is not in the screen OFF mode; and (b) determining whether theelectronic communication device is in an application processor powercollapse mode and maintaining the electronic communication device in thefirst power state in response to a determination that the communicationdevice is not in the application processor power collapse mode.

A communication system for controlling an electronic communicationdevice having first and second power states according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention also comprises processing andcommunication means for operating the electronic communication device ina first power state in a communication session. The system furthercomprises further processing means for requesting to the base stationtransitioning the electronic communication device from the first powerstate to the second power state in response to a determination that afirst predefined time period has expired after transfer of a packet andbefore a transfer of a next packet, for any of and no more than a firstN packets in the communication session.

A communication system according to a further example of theabove-described embodiment of the present invention also comprises meansfor determining a connection increase rate and adjusting N based on thedetected connection increase rate.

According to further embodiments of the above-described system, theprocessing electronics is configured such that at least one of: (a) N isa number in the range of 2-12; (b) the first predefined time period isin the range of 3 to 5 seconds; and (c) transitioning comprisesimplementing a UMTS fast dormancy operation.

A communication system according to a further example of theabove-described embodiment of the present invention also comprises meansfor determining whether the electronic communication device is in ascreen OFF mode and maintaining the electronic communication device inthe first power state in response to a determination that thecommunication device is not in the screen OFF mode.

A communication system according to a further example of theabove-described embodiment of the present invention also comprises meansfor determining whether the electronic communication device is in anapplication processor power collapse mode and maintaining the electroniccommunication device in the first power state in response to adetermination that the communication device is not in the applicationprocessor power collapse mode.

A communication system for controlling an electronic communicationdevice having first and second power states according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention also comprises processing andcommunication means for operating the electronic communication device ina first power state in a communication session. The system furthercomprises further processing means for transitioning the electroniccommunication device from the first power state to the second powerstate in response to a determination that: (a) a first predefined timeperiod has expired after transfer of a packet and before a transfer of anext packet in the communication session and (b) the size of each packettransferred thus far in the communication session is not determined tobe greater than S.

According to further embodiments of the above-described system, theprocessing electronics is configured such that at last one of: (a) thefirst predefined time period is in the range of 3 to 5 seconds; (b) S isa number in the range of 100-1000 bytes; and (c) transitioning comprisesimplementing a UMTS fast dormancy operation.

A communication system according to a further example of theabove-described embodiment of the present invention also comprises meansfor determining a connection increase rate and adjusting S based on thedetected connection increase rate.

A communication system according to a further example of theabove-described embodiment of the present invention also comprises meansfor determining whether the electronic communication device is in ascreen OFF mode and maintaining the electronic communication device inthe first power state in response to a determination that thecommunication device is not in the screen OFF mode.

A communication system according to a further example of theabove-described embodiment of the present invention also comprises meansfor determining whether the electronic communication device is in anapplication processor power collapse mode and maintaining the electroniccommunication device in the first power state in response to adetermination that the communication device is not in the applicationprocessor power collapse mode.

Further embodiments of the present invention comprise a computer programproduct for controlling an electronic communication device having firstand second power states and that operates in a first power state duringa communication session. The computer program comprises acomputer-readable storage medium having code for transitioning theelectronic communication device from the first power state to the secondpower state in response to a determination that a first predefined timeperiod has expired after transfer of a packet and before a transfer of anext packet, for any of and no more than a first N packets in thecommunication session.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a process according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a further process according to an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a portion of a process according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods forreducing tail overhead for tiny connections, by reliably detecting theend of the data transfer within a tiny connection, and initiating a fastdormancy operation to transition a mobile user device, referred toherein as user equipment (UE) to a low power state faster than theexpiry of network timers.

According to embodiments of the present invention, processingelectronics within a UE, are configured to detect a tiny connection and,in particular embodiments, to detect the end of the data transfer of atiny connection. The processing electronics are further configured tocarry out a “tiny connection fast dormancy” (TCFD) process as describedherein, upon the detection of the end of tiny connection. In particularembodiments, the TCFD process employs a UMTS “fast dormancy” featurealready present in the UE. In other embodiments, the TCFD processemploys other suitable fast dormancy features, such as described herein.

The TCFD process employs an inactivity timer that is more aggressive(shorter duration) than the network inactivity timer. For example, ifthe network inactivity timer is 18 seconds, the TCFD inactivity timermay be 3 to 5 seconds. In other embodiments, other suitable time periodsfor the TCFD inactivity timer are employed. By employing a suitablyaggressive TCFD inactivity timer (with a sufficiently shorter timeperiod than the network inactivity timer time period) and reliabledetection of tiny connections, significant power savings and moreefficient usage of network resources can be accomplished.

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of various configurations and isnot intended to represent the only configurations in which the conceptsdescribed herein may be practiced. The detailed description includesspecific details for providing a thorough understanding of variousconcepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatthese concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In someinstances, well-known structures and components are shown in blockdiagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.

Several aspects of telecommunication systems will now be presented withreference to various apparatus and methods. These apparatus and methodswill be described in the following detailed description and illustratedin the accompanying drawings by various blocks, modules, components,circuits, steps, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred toas “elements”). These elements may be implemented using electronichardware, computer software, or any combination thereof whether suchelements are implemented as hardware or software depends upon theparticular application and design constraints imposed on the overallsystem.

By way of example, an element, or any portion of an element, or anycombination of elements may be implemented with “processing electronics”that includes one or more processors. Examples of processors includemicroprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs),field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices(PLDs), state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, andother suitable hardware configured to perform the various functionalitydescribed throughout this disclosure. One or more processors in theprocessing system may execute software. Software shall be construedbroadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments,program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications,software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines,objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc.,whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode,hardware description language, or otherwise.

Accordingly, in one or more exemplary embodiments, the functionsdescribed may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or anycombination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may bestored on or encoded as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes computerstorage media. Storage media may be any available media that can beaccessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, suchcomputer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or otheroptical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storagedevices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desiredprogram code in the form of instructions or data structures and that canbe accessed by a computer. Disk and disc, as used herein, includescompact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc(DVD), and floppy disk where disks usually reproduce data magnetically,while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of theabove should also be included within the scope of computer-readablemedia.

1. System Hardware Environment

Examples of a TCFD system and process according to embodiments of thepresent invention are described with reference to FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, aUE 10 includes a housing 11 containing processing and communicationelectronics 12 configured to provide certain processing operations andnetwork communication operations, for example, but not limited towireless telecommunications over a network 14. As shown in FIG. 1, theUE 10 is also configured with TCFD processing electronics 16.

The processing and communication electronics 12 includes processingelectronics and communication electronics configured to performoperations relating to network communications. In particularembodiments, the processing and communication electronics 12 areconfigured to provide standard radio telecommunication operations, andmay be configured similar to conventional wireless telecommunicationelectronics, such as used in conventional wireless mobile telephones,electronic pads, smart phones, or the like. In other embodiments, theprocessing and communication electronics 12 may be specificallyconfigured for one or more other wireless communication applications ofuse.

In certain embodiments, the processing and communication electronics 12are also configured to perform other processing operations, based onsoftware, hardware, firmware or combinations thereof, associated withthe processing electronics, where such other operations may include, butare not limited to timer operations (to determine the expiration of oneor more preset time periods), user interface operations (to control thedisplay and input of information to and from a user), contact directoryoperations, and/or other applications conventionally included inwireless telecommunication devices.

In particular embodiments, the TCFD processing electronics 16 comprisessoftware, hardware or combinations thereof, added to or included in thesame processing and communication electronics 12. By incorporating theTCFD processing electronics within the processing and communicationelectronics 12 that are already provided in the UE 10 for networkcommunication operations, the TCFD processing electronics 16 can beincluded in the UE 10, with minimal additional costs. In particularembodiments, the TCFD processing electronics 16 comprises software, suchas one or more software applications, programs, modules, or otherappropriate form, for programming processing electronics included in theprocessing and communication electronics 12, without requiringadditional hardware to be included in the UE 10. However, in otherembodiments, the TCFD processing electronics 16 comprises processingelectronics that are separate from, but connected to operate with, theprocessing and communication electronics 12.

As described herein, the TCFD processing electronics 16 includes oroperates with at least one TCFD timer 17 for providing a timing signal(e.g., a time out signal) upon the expiration of one or more predefinedtime periods from the start of the timer. The TCFD timer 17 may beimplemented in software, hardware or combinations thereof, included inor operatively connected with the TCFD processing electronics 16 and/orthe processing and communication electronics 12. The TCFD processingelectronics 16 are configured to start the timer 17, reset the timer 17and process timing signals from the timer 17, in accordance withexamples as described herein. The TCFD timer 17 may be set to anysuitable time period and, in particular embodiments, is set to a timeperiod that is less than a network inactivity timer 24 (discussedbelow). For example, if the network inactivity timer is 18 seconds, theTCFD inactivity timer may be 3 to 5 seconds. In other embodiments, othersuitable time periods for the TCFD inactivity timer 17 are employed.

The UE 10 in FIG. 1 also includes an electronic display screen andassociated display electronics 18 in the housing 11. The display screenand electronics 18 are connected with the processing and communicationelectronics 12, and are configured for displaying visual displayinformation. In particular embodiments, the electronics 12 and/orelectronics 18 are configured to control the operation of the displayscreen to selectively transition between high and low power states (forexample, for lighting, backlighting, sleep mode or other high and lowpower usage modes), for example, in response to control signals from theelectronics 12 and/or electronics 18. The UE 10 may include one or moreuser input devices for receiving information from a user, where suchuser input devices may include a touch screen associated or included inthe display screen 18, and/or one or more of buttons, knobs, keyboardkeys, slide switches or the like (not shown) arranged on the housing ofthe UE 10.

The UE 10 includes or operates with a power source 19 for providingelectronic power to the processing and communications electronics 12 andother electronics in the UE 10. In particular embodiments, the powersource 19 comprises an internal power source such as a battery or otherlimited source that depletes over time and/or usage. In suchembodiments, the TCFD processing can help to minimize power usage andincrease the charged or working life of the power source 19.

The UE 10 may be any suitable electronic communication device havingprocessing capabilities and that is configured to provide electronicnetwork communication operations. In example embodiments, the UE 10 is awireless, mobile telephone device or other electronic communicationdevice that provides mobile telephone audio and/or text communicationoperations through radio connections with one or more base stations 20.Examples of such a UE 10, include, but are not limited to a cellularphone, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant, a portable computingdevice, a navigation device, a tablet, and/or the like or anycombination thereof.

The processing and communication electronics 12 may include one or moreelectronic processors, associated memory, and communication electronicsfor communicating data (audio, image, text or other information) overthe network 14. In particular embodiments, the communication electronicsincludes electronic receiver, transmitter and/or transceiver electronicsfor wireless communication of data.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the UE 10 is connected for communication ina wireless communication system. The wireless system in FIG. 1 may, forexample, be representative of any wireless communication system ornetwork that may be enabled to receive and/or transmit wireless signals.By way of example but not limitation, the wireless system in FIG. 1 mayinclude one or more of a wireless wide area network (WWAN), or awireless metropolitan area network (WMAN), e.g., Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS) communication system, Evolution DataOnly/Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO) communication system, Long TermEvolution (LTE) communication system, and/or the like.

The UE 10 in FIG. 1 comprises a wireless, mobile telephone that includesprocessing and communication electronics 12 configured to communicate,through one or more base stations 20, over the network 14. In suchembodiments, the network 14 comprises a communication network andassociated hardware and software for providing network communicationoperations. One or more network servers 22 are connected on the network14, for communicating data with UE 10 and other UEs, and/or with otherservers on the network 14.

The base station 20 includes (or is connected to or otherwise associatedwith) one or more network timers 24. The network timers 24 may beimplemented by software, hardware or combinations thereof, associatedwith the base station 20.

A system according to embodiments of the present invention comprisesTCFD processing electronics 16 (and/or processing and communicationelectronics 12 that includes TCFD processing electronics) configured tocarry out a TCFD process, as described herein. A system according tofurther embodiments of the present invention comprises a UE 10 havingTCFD processing electronics 16 (and/or processing and communicationelectronics 12 that includes TCFD processing electronics) configured tocarry out a TCFD process, as described herein. Systems according to yetfurther embodiments of the present invention also comprises one or moreof other devices and components as described with reference to FIG. 1.

2. Operation Examples

In embodiments as shown in FIG. 1, the UE 10 is configured tocommunicate (receive or receive and transmit) data over the network 14,through radio connections with one or more base stations 20. Data iscommunicated in packets, where a communication session typicallyinvolves the communication of multiple data packets. However, asdiscussed above, various communication events can result in a radioconnection in which a relatively small amount of data (for example, arelatively small number of packets or packets of relatively small size)are transferred.

During a communication session, the UE 10 is controlled, via theprocessing and communication electronics 12, to switch into a high powerstate (e.g., CELL_DCH and CELL_FACH) to receive or transmit datapackets. The UE 10 remains in the high power state as long as packetsare being communicated. As discussed above, if the UE 10 remains in thehigh power state without communicating packets for a predetermined timeperiod (as determined by the network timer 24), the base station 20 willcommunicate an instruction to the UE 10 to transition to a dormancy orlow power state (e.g., IDLE).

However, the TCFD processing electronics 16, according to embodiments ofthe present invention, triggers a fast dormancy (transition to a lowpower state) when the TCFD inactivity timer expires and a certaincondition is met. In one embodiment, the certain condition is that thenumber of packets exchanged thus far in the current radio connection isless than a predefined number N. For example, N may be 10. In otherembodiments, N is greater or lower than 10.

In that embodiment, the TCFD inactivity timer 17 is initiated for eachpacket of the first N packets transferred from the start of a radioconnection (communication session). In other words, upon detection ofthe first packet in the radio connection, the TCFD inactivity timer 17is started. If a second packet is exchanged before the TCFD inactivitytimer expires, then the TCFD inactivity timer 17 is re-set upon thedetection of the second packet, and so forth up to the first N packetsin the radio connection.

If the TCFD inactivity timer 17 expires after any of the N packets,before the next packet in the radio connection is exchanged, then theTCFD processing electronics 16 determines that the radio connection is a“tiny connection” and triggers a fast dormancy process to transition theUE 10 to a low power state. If the TCFD inactivity timer 17 does notexpire after any of the first N packets in the radio connection, thenthe TCFD processing electronics 16 determines that the radio connectionis not a “tiny connection” and TCFD processing ends for that radioconnection.

Once the TCFD process ends, the communication session continues, but issubject to the control of the longer duration network inactivity timer24. Thus, in the above embodiment, the TCFD process applies anaggressive TCFD inactivity timer 17 during the first N packets of aradio connection (communication session). If the TCFD inactivity timer17 did not run out during those first N packets, then it is assumed thatthe radio connection is not a “tiny connection” and the standard networkinactivity timer is applied during the remainder of the radio connection(communication session).

In example embodiments described herein, the TCFD processing electronics16 triggers a fast dormancy (transition to a low power state). Inparticular embodiments, the TCFD processing electronics 16 triggers aUMTS fast dormancy feature that is included in the processing andcommunication electronics 12 of the UE (according to appropriatetelecommunication standards). In particular embodiments, the transitionto a low power state involves transitioning the UE 10 from a high powerstate for receiving or transmitting data (such as, but not limited to aCell_DCH state or a Cell FACH state) into a lower power state (such as,but not limited to an idle state, e.g., Cell_IDLE state, PCH state orother lower power state), for example, a state where the radioconnection is removed while the IP address is kept, or to another statethat consumes less power than a state in which the UE 10 communicates(receives or transmits) packets. While embodiments use the UMTS fastdormancy feature included in the UE, other embodiments use othersuitable fast dormancy features.

For example, upon the TCFD processing electronics 16 triggering a fastdormancy transition, the UE 10 communicates a request (e.g., a SignalingConnection Release Indication (SCRI)) to the base station 20 totransition to a low power state. The base station 20, in response, sendsan authorization to the UE 10, causing the processing and communicationelectronics 12 to transition the UE 10 into a low power state.

In the above example embodiment, the TCFD processing electronics 16triggers a fast dormancy (transition to a low power state) when the TCFDinactivity timer 17 expires and the certain condition is met that thenumber of packets exchanged thus far in the current radio connection isless than a predefined number N. In another example, embodiment, thecertain condition is that the maximum packet size exchanged thus far inthe current radio connection is less than or equal to a predefined valueS. The value S may be any suitable value, such as, but not limited to100 bytes.

In that embodiment, the TCFD inactivity timer 17 is started for eachpacket of the radio connection (communication session), as discussedabove. However, if the TCFD inactivity time expires during the radioconnection, then the TCFD processing electronics 16 determines whetheror not the size of each packet exchanged up to that point in the radioconnection is equal to or less than S. If the size of each packetexchanged up to that point is equal to or less than S, then the TCFDprocessing electronics 16 determines that the radio connection is a“tiny connection” and triggers a fast dormancy process to transition theUE 10 to a low power state. If the size of any of the packets exchangedup to that point in the radio connection is greater than S, then it isassumed that the radio connection is not a “tiny connection” and theTCFD process ends.

Again, once the TCFD process ends, the communication session continues,but is subject to the control of the longer duration network inactivitytimer 24. Thus, in the above embodiment, the TCFD processing electronics16 applies an aggressive TCFD inactivity timer until a packet having apacket size greater than S is transferred in the radio connection(communication session). If a packet size greater than S is transferred,then it is assumed that the radio connection is not a “tiny connection”and the standard network inactivity timer 24 is applied during theremainder of the radio connection (communication session).

In further embodiments, the value S is a changeable, programmableparameter. Similarly, in any of the above embodiments, the number N canbe a changeable, programmable parameter. In particular embodiments, thevalue S and/or N is determined, based on network or UE performancecriteria and/or other predefined conditions.

For example, the TCFD processing electronics 16 may be configured toprovide a different S value and/or different N value for each of aplurality of different geographic locations, such that a different Sand/or N value is provided for each different detected geographiclocation of the UE 10. For example, a plurality of different geographicregions may be respectively associated (e.g., on a one-to-one basis)with a corresponding plurality of different S and/or N values, such thata different S and/or N value is provided for each different geographicregion in which the UE 10 may be located.

In the embodiment described herein, the TCFD timer 17 can be set at afixed value (such as, but not limited to 3 to 5 seconds). Alternatively,in any of those embodiments, the TCFD timer 17 can be changed oradaptively updated, for example, based on certain rules, algorithms orperformance criteria.

For example, the TCFD processing electronics 16 and/or TCFD timer 17 maybe configured to apply an algorithm or rule-based process to define aTCFD timer value for any of the above-described embodiments, where theTCFD timer value is dependent on one or more predefined conditions.

Example TCFD processes according to embodiments of the present inventionmay be carried out by the TCFD processing electronics 16 and/orprocessing and communication electronics 12 that includes TCFDprocessing electronics 16.

In the flow chart of FIG. 2, the TCFD process 30 begins with (orotherwise include) a detection (at 32) of the start of a radioconnection (or a determination that a radio connection has started). Inparticular embodiments, electronics in the UE (such as, but not limitedto, the processing and communication electronics 12 and/or TCFDprocessing electronics 16) detect (at 32) the start of the radioconnection by monitoring or otherwise receiving a signal from thenetwork, indicating that the processing and communication electronics 12has obtained a radio connection. In other embodiments, other suitableindicators of the start of a radio connection may be employed todetermine the detection 32.

In particular embodiments, upon a detection 32 of the start of a radioconnection, the process 30 then determines (at 34) whether or not thedisplay screen of the UE 10 (e.g., the display screen associated withthe display screen and electronics 18) is turned OFF or ON. Inparticular embodiments, electronics in the UE (such as, but not limitedto, the processing and communication electronics 12 and/or TCFDprocessing electronics 16) determines (at 34) determines whether or notthe display screen is OFF or ON by monitoring or otherwise receiving asignal from a high-level operating system associated with theelectronics, where the signal indicates that the display screen is ON(not OFF).

If the determination 34 is that the display screen is not OFF (No), thenit is assumed that the user has recently used or is currently using thedevice and the TCFD process 30 is ended (at 36), with no fast dormancy(i.e., no transition to the low power state). As a result, the UE 10remains in the high power state and is subject to the longer-durationnetwork inactivity timer during the remainder of the radio connection(communication session).

If the determination 34 is that the display screen is OFF (Yes), thenthe process 30 proceeds to 38 to start the TCFD inactivity timer 17. Infurther embodiments, the determination 34 may be eliminated from theprocess 30, such that the process 30 proceeds from the detection 32 tothe start 38 of the TCFD inactivity timer 17, without making adetermination 34 regarding the display screen status.

The TCFD inactivity timer 17 is started (at 38). The TCFD inactivitytimer 17 times (or otherwise determines the expiration of) a predefinedtime period (i.e., the TCFD timer period).

After the TCFD inactivity timer 17 is started, a determination is made(at 40) as to whether or not the TCFD inactivity timer 17 expired beforethe communication of the next packet in the radio connection. If thedetermination 40 is (Yes) that the TCFD inactivity timer expired beforethe next packet was communicated, then the fast dormancy process istriggered (at 42) to transition the UE 10 into a low power state,without waiting for the network inactivity timer 24 to expire.

On the other hand, if the determination 40 is (No) that the TCFDinactivity timer did not expire before the next packet was communicated,then the process 30 proceeds to determine (at 44) whether or not thelast packet was the Nth packet from the start of the radiocommunication. If the determination 44 is (Yes) that the last packet wasthe Nth packet, then the TCFD process 30 is ended (at 46) with no fastdormancy (i.e., no transition to the low power state). As a result, theUE 10 remains in the high power state and is subject to the networkinactivity timer during the remainder of the radio connection(communication session).

On the other hand, if the determination 44 is (No) that the last packetwas not the Nth packet, then the TCFD process 30 returns to reset theTCFD inactivity timer 38. In that event, the TCFD inactivity timer 38 isrestarted (or otherwise accessed), so that a determination can be made(at 40) as to whether or not the predefined time period expired beforethe communication of the next packet in the radio connection, and theprocess 30 continues as described above.

As described above, the TCFD inactivity timer 17 is started (at 38)after the detection of the start of a radio connection, and is reset orrestarted (again, at 38) for each packet, up to the first N packets, ina radio connection. In such embodiments, the TCFD processing electronics16 is configured to detect the occurrence of each packet, at least up tothe first N packets in a radio connection. In particular embodiments,the detection of a packet is made by monitoring a transmission andreception data buffer associated with the processing and communicationelectronics 12 and/or TCFD processing electronics 16.

Upon the detection of the packet, the TCFD processing electronics 16triggers the TCFD inactivity timer 17 to reset and start timing again.In addition, the TCFD processing electronics 16 includes a counter (oraccesses a counter associated with the processing and communicationelectronics 12) to count the number of packets from the start of a radioconnection. For example, the TCFD processing electronics 16 may beconfigured to reset a counter at the beginning of a radio connection andincrement the counter (or decrement the counter from N or other presetnumber), for each detection of a packet. By keeping and accessing acount of the number of packets communicated from the start of the radioconnection, the TCFD processing electronics 16 can make a determination44 as to whether or not the last packet was the Nth packet in the radioconnection.

In the further embodiment, in addition to or instead of determiningwhether or not a TCFD inactivity timer 17 expires within the first Npackets, a determination is made as to whether or not the maximum packetsize of each packet thus far exchanged in the radio connection is lessthan or equal to a predefined size S. An example of such a process 50 isdescribed with reference to FIG. 3. In particular embodiments, the TCFDprocessing electronics 16 (and/or processing and communicationelectronics 12 that includes TCFD processing electronics 16) isconfigured to perform a process 30 as described above, a process 50, ora combination of both processes.

With reference to FIG. 3, the process 50 starts with the same elements32, 34 and 38, as described above with respect to the process of FIG. 2.In the process 50, after the start of the radio connection is detected(at 32), packets may be detected in the manner described above or anyother suitable manner.

Upon the detection of a packet, the TCFD inactivity timer 17 is startedor re-started (at 38). A determination is made (at 40) as to whether ornot the TCFD inactivity timer 17 expired before the communication of thenext packet in the radio connection. If the determination 40 is (Yes)that the TCFD inactivity timer expired before the next packet wascommunicated, a further determination (at 54) is made as to whether ornot the size of the packet exceeds a predefined threshold size S. Inparticular embodiments, electronics in the UE 10 (such as, but notlimited to the processing and communication electronics 12 and/or TCFDprocessing electronics 16) is configured to detect the size of a packetby monitoring the change of the data size in the transmission andreception buffer.

If the determination 54 is (Yes) that the size of a packet is greaterthan a predefined threshold size S, then the TCFD process 50 is ended(at 56) with no fast dormancy (i.e., no transition to the low powerstate). As a result, the UE 10 remains in the high power state and issubject to the network inactivity timer during the remainder of theradio connection (communication session). On the other hand, if thedetermination 54 is (No) that the size of a packet is not greater than apredefined threshold size S, then the TCFD process 50 proceeds totrigger fast dormancy (at 60) to transition the UE 10 into a low powerstate, without waiting for the network inactivity timer 24 to expire.

If the determination 40 is (No) that the TCFD inactivity timer did notexpire before the next packet was communicated, then the process 50proceeds to determine (at 58) whether or not the last packet was the Nthpacket from the start of the radio communication. If the determination58 is (Yes) that the last packet was the Nth packet, then the TCFDprocess 50 is ended (at 56) with no fast dormancy (i.e., no transitionto the low power state). As a result, the UE 10 remains in the highpower state and is subject to the network inactivity timer during theremainder of the radio connection (communication session). On the otherhand, if the determination 58 is (No) that the last packet was not theNth packet, then the TCFD process 50 returns to start/re-start TCFDtimer (at 38), and the process 50 continues as described above.

In further example embodiments of the TCFD processes described abovewith respect to FIGS. 2 and 3, the process may include a determinationas to whether or not the UE is in an application processor powercollapse mode with the display screen OFF. For example, in theembodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3, instead of (or in addition to) the element34, the TCFD process 30 or 50 may include a determination 41 as towhether or not the UE is in application processor power collapse modeand is in a screen OFF mode. For example, in the TCFD process 30, thedetermination 41 may occur after a determination 40 of (Yes), and beforea trigger 42 of the TCFD fast dormancy process, as shown in FIG. 4. Inthe TCFD process 50, the determination 41 may occur after adetermination 54 of (No), and before a trigger 60 of the TCFD fastdormancy process, also as shown in FIG. 4.

Example TCFD processes and systems as described above are configured tocontrol UE 10 to transition from a high power state to a low power statein response to a determination that a first predefined period of time(determined by the TCFD timer 17) has expired after transfer of a packetand before transfer of a next packet, for the first N packets in acommunication session, and to employ a second time period (determined bythe network inactivity timer 24) after the first N packets. Furtherexample TCFD processes and systems as described above are alternativelyor also configured to control the UE 10 to transition from a high powerstate to a low power state, in response to a determination that a firstpredefined period of time (determined by the TCFD timer 17) has expiredafter transfer of a packet and before transfer of a next packet, andthat the size of each packet transferred thus far is not greater than apredefined value S.

A TCFD process as described above may be implemented with processingelectronics in the UE 10. Existing or additional processing and relatedelectronics (hardware, software, firmware, and/or combinations thereof)may be employed in the UE 10 to provide a traffic inactivity timer witha suitably aggressive timer period (i.e., a TCFD inactivity timer 17 asdescribed above). Such existing or additional electronics may include apacket counter and/or a packet size detector, depending upon which ofthe above embodiments is employed.

The TCFD process may be configured to detect existing screen ON/OFFinformation, to determine whether or not the display screen on the UE isON or OFF. Similarly, the TCFD process may be configured to detectexisting application processor power collapse mode information, todetermine whether or not the UE is in an application processor powercollapse mode. In particular embodiments, those detection operations areprovided by software instructions provided to processing electronics inthe UE 10 (for example, the processing and communication electronics 12,discussed above). Accordingly, in particular embodiments, a TCFD systemand process may be implemented with minimal or no hardware changes to anexisting UE device.

The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the various aspects described herein. Variousmodifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied toother aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to theaspects shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistentwith the language claims, wherein reference to an element in thesingular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specificallyso stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically statedotherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. All structural andfunctional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects describedthroughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known tothose of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein byreference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover,nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the publicregardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in theclaims. No claim element is to be construed as a means plus functionunless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in theprocesses disclosed is an example of illustrative approaches. Based upondesign preferences, it is understood that the specific order orhierarchy of steps in the processes may be rearranged while remainingwithin the scope of the present disclosure. The accompanying methodclaims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and arenot meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

Those of skill in the art would understand that information and signalsmay be represented using any of a variety of different technologies andtechniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information,signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout theabove description may be represented by voltages, currents,electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields orparticles, or any combination thereof.

Those of skill would further appreciate that the various illustrativelogical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described inconnection with the implementations disclosed herein may be implementedas electronic hardware, computer software embodied on a tangible medium,or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeabilityof hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks,modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally interms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implementedas hardware or software embodied on a tangible medium depends upon theparticular application and design constraints imposed on the overallsystem. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality invarying ways for each particular application, but such implementationdecisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from thescope of the present disclosure.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits describedin connection with the implementations disclosed herein may beimplemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digitalsignal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit(ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmablelogic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardwarecomponents, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functionsdescribed herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor,but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with theimplementations disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware,in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of thetwo. A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROMmemory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removabledisk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. Anillustrative storage medium is coupled to the processor such theprocessor can read information from, and write information to, thestorage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integralto the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in anASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal. In the alternative, theprocessor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in auser terminal.

In one or more illustrative implementations, the functions described maybe implemented in hardware, software or firmware embodied on a tangiblemedium, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, thefunctions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or moreinstructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readablemedia includes both computer storage media and communication mediaincluding any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer programfrom one place to another. A storage media may be any available mediathat can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and notlimitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM,CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carryor store desired program code in the form of instructions or datastructures and that can be accessed by a computer. In addition, anyconnection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example,if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remotesource using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digitalsubscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio,and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair,DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave areincluded in the definition of medium. Disk and disc, as used herein,includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatiledisc (DVD), floppy disk, and Blu-Ray disc where disks usually reproducedata magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media.

The previous description of the disclosed implementations is provided toenable any person skilled in the art to make or use the presentdisclosure. Various modifications to these implementations will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principlesdefined herein may be applied to other implementations without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosureis not intended to be limited to the implementations shown herein but isto be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novelfeatures disclosed herein.

1. A method of controlling an electronic communication device havingfirst and second power states, the method comprising: operating theelectronic communication device in a first power state in acommunication session; requesting to the base station transitioning theelectronic communication device from the first power state to the secondpower state in response to a determination that a first predefined timeperiod has expired after transfer of a packet and before a transfer of anext packet, for any of and no more than a first N packets in thecommunication session.
 2. A method as recited in claim 1, furthercomprising detecting a connection increase rate and adjusting N based onthe detected connection increase rate.
 3. A method as recited in claim1, wherein at least one of: (a) N is a number in the range of 2-12; (b)the first predefined time period is in the range of 3 to 5 seconds; and(c) transitioning comprises implementing a UMTS fast dormancy operation.4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising determiningwhether the electronic communication device is in a screen OFF mode andmaintaining the electronic communication device in the first power statein response to a determination that the communication device is not inthe screen OFF mode.
 5. A method as recited in claim 1, furthercomprising determining whether the electronic communication device is inan application processor power collapse mode and maintaining theelectronic communication device in the first power state in response toa determination that the communication device is not in the applicationprocessor power collapse mode.
 6. A method of controlling an electroniccommunication device having first and second power states, the methodcomprising: operating the electronic communication device in a firstpower state in a communication session; transitioning the electroniccommunication device from the first power state to the second powerstate in response to a determination that: (1) a first predefined timeperiod has expired after transfer of a packet and before a transfer of anext packet in the communication session and (2) the size of each packettransferred thus far in the communication session is not determined tobe greater than S.
 7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the firstpredefined time period is in the range of 3 to 5 seconds.
 8. A method asrecited in claim 6, further comprising detecting a connection increaserate and adjusting S based on the detected connection increase rate. 9.A method as recited in claim 6, wherein S is a number in the range of100-1000 bytes.
 10. A method as recited in claim 6, whereintransitioning comprises implementing a UMTS fast dormancy operation. 11.A method as recited in claim 6, further comprising determining whetherthe electronic communication device is in a screen OFF mode andmaintaining the electronic communication device in the first power statein response to a determination that the communication device is not inthe screen OFF mode.
 12. A method as recited in claim 6, furthercomprising determining whether the electronic communication device is inan application processor power collapse mode and maintaining theelectronic communication device in the first power state in response toa determination that the communication device is not in the applicationprocessor power collapse mode.
 13. A communication system comprising: anelectronic communication device having at least first and seconddifferent power states, the electronic communication device configuredto operate in the first power state during a communication session;processing electronics in the electronic communication device, theprocessing electronics configured for requesting transitioning of theelectronic communication device from the first power state to the secondpower state in response to a determination that a first predefined timeperiod has expired after transfer of a packet and before a transfer of anext packet, for any of and no more than a first N packets in thecommunication session.
 14. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein theprocessing electronics is further configured to adjust N based on adetected connection increase rate.
 15. A system as recited in claim 13,wherein at least one of: (a) N is a number in the range of 2-12; (b) thefirst predefined time period is in the range of 3 to 5 seconds; and (c)transitioning comprises implementing a UMTS fast dormancy operation. 16.A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the processing electronics isfurther configured to at least one of: (a) determine whether theelectronic communication device is in a screen OFF mode and maintain theelectronic communication device in the first power state in response toa determination that the communication device is not in the screen OFFmode; and (b) determine whether the electronic communication device isin an application processor power collapse mode and maintaining theelectronic communication device in the first power state in response toa determination that the communication device is not in the applicationprocessor power collapse mode.
 17. A communication system comprising: anelectronic communication device having at least first and seconddifferent power states, the electronic communication device configuredto operate in the first power state during a communication session;processing electronics in the electronic communication device, theprocessing electronics configured for transitioning the electroniccommunication device from the first power state to the second powerstate in response to a determination that: (a) a first predefined timeperiod has expired after transfer of a packet and before a transfer of anext packet in the communication session and (b) the size of each packettransferred thus far in the communication session is not determined tobe greater than S.
 18. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein at leastone of: (a) the first predefined time period is in the range of 3 to 5seconds; (b) S is in the range of 100-1000 bytes; and (c) transitioningcomprises implementing a UMTS fast dormancy operation.
 19. A system asrecited in claim 17, wherein the processing electronics is furtherconfigured for at least one of: (a) determining whether the electroniccommunication device is in a screen OFF mode and maintaining theelectronic communication device in the first power state in response toa determination that the communication device is not in the screen OFFmode; and (b) determining whether the electronic communication device isin an application processor power collapse mode and maintaining theelectronic communication device in the first power state in response toa determination that the communication device is not in the applicationprocessor power collapse mode.
 20. A system of controlling an electroniccommunication device having first and second power states, the systemcomprising: processing and communication means for operating theelectronic communication device in a first power state in acommunication session; further processing means for requesting to thebase station transitioning the electronic communication device from thefirst power state to the second power state in response to adetermination that a first predefined time period has expired aftertransfer of a packet and before a transfer of a next packet, for any ofand no more than a first N packets in the communication session.
 21. Asystem as recited in claim 20, further comprising means for determininga connection increase rate and adjusting N based on the detectedconnection increase rate.
 22. A system as recited in claim 20, whereinat least one of: (a) N is a number in the range of 2-12; (b) the firstpredefined time period is in the range of 3 to 5 seconds; and (c)transitioning comprises implementing a UMTS fast dormancy operation. 23.A system as recited in claim 20, further comprising means fordetermining whether the electronic communication device is in a screenOFF mode and maintaining the electronic communication device in thefirst power state in response to a determination that the communicationdevice is not in the screen OFF mode.
 24. A system as recited in claim1, further comprising means for determining whether the electroniccommunication device is in an application processor power collapse modeand maintaining the electronic communication device in the first powerstate in response to a determination that the communication device isnot in the application processor power collapse mode.
 25. A system ofcontrolling an electronic communication device having first and secondpower states, the system comprising: processing and communication meansfor operating the electronic communication device in a first power statein a communication session; further processing means for transitioningthe electronic communication device from the first power state to thesecond power state in response to a determination that: (1) a firstpredefined time period has expired after transfer of a packet and beforea transfer of a next packet in the communication session and (2) thesize of each packet transferred thus far in the communication session isnot determined to be greater than S.
 26. A system as recited in claim25, wherein at last one of: (a) the first predefined time period is inthe range of 3 to 5 seconds; (b) S is a number in the range of 100-1000bytes; and (c) transitioning comprises implementing a UMTS fast dormancyoperation.
 27. A system as recited in claim 25, further comprising meansfor determining a connection increase rate and adjusting S based on thedetected connection increase rate.
 28. A system as recited in claim 25,further comprising means for determining whether the electroniccommunication device is in a screen OFF mode and maintaining theelectronic communication device in the first power state in response toa determination that the communication device is not in the screen OFFmode.
 29. A system as recited in claim 25, further comprising means fordetermining whether the electronic communication device is in anapplication processor power collapse mode and maintaining the electroniccommunication device in the first power state in response to adetermination that the communication device is not in the applicationprocessor power collapse mode.
 30. A computer program product forcontrolling an electronic communication device having first and secondpower states and that operates in a first power state during acommunication session, comprising a computer-readable storage mediumhaving code for transitioning the electronic communication device fromthe first power state to the second power state in response to adetermination that a first predefined time period has expired aftertransfer of a packet and before a transfer of a next packet, for any ofand no more than a first N packets in the communication session.